Hydraulically controlled door with tandem crank arms and latches

ABSTRACT

A hydraulic door of the railroad car type having right side and left side tandem, non-hydraulically connected wheel-carrying crank arm assemblies and right side and left side tandem, nonhydraulically connected, latches, manual hydraulic control means for the crank arm assemblies having automatic synchronizing valve assemblies synchronizing operation of the tandem crank arms and tandem latches.

United States Patent [1 1 Owen 1 1 May 27, 1975 [541 3,397,489 8/1968 COOK 49/281 W H TANDEM CRANK ARMS AND 3,714,735 Z/1973 Owen 49/220 LATCHES [76] Inventor: Robert E. Owen, 4522 Manor Primary Examiner.1. Karl Bell Circle, Sioux City. Iowa 51104 Attorney. Agenr, r FirmHiram A. Sturges [22] Filed: Feb. 25, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 445,155 [57] ABSTRACT Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 261,199 June 9, I972, hydrauhc d oor of the rallroad car type havmg abandone side and left side tandem, non-hydraulically connected wheel-carrying crank arm assemblies and right side 52 us. c1 49/220; 49/280 and left Side tandem, non-hydraulically connected. [51] Int. Cl E05d /10 latches manual hydraulic control means for the Crank [58] Field of Search 49/220, 221, 281, 426, arm assemblies having automatic Synchronizing valve 49 230 209 assemblies synchronizing operation of the tandem crank arms and tandem latches.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 1,150,531 8/1915 Miller 49/221 X 7 7O 54 5 l4 52 l /fl [m 112 t i I l t; I I} i I l I ll m I I I I so 412 I I; 4|2 4|4 400 :I 410 :1 4|4 4|0 I I II l' 420 760 I 440 i 4 444 4 4 I '0 e|2 69 .420 514 en 30 94 51s 2f 1 2 as e4 92 I30 I20 130 ss 82 m PATENTED MAY 2 7 1975 SHEET ONW HYDRAULICALLY CONTROLLED DOOR WITH TANDEM CRANK ARMS AND LATCHES This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 261,199, filed June 9, 1972, now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART In the prior art, the only research which has been done to my knowledge on hydraulic systems for opening and closing and latching railroad car doors is a research conducted by myself which resulted in the filing of a patent application on my first door; Ser. No. 150,706, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,714,735 titled: HY- DRAULICALLY OPERATED RAILROAD CAR DOOR, filed June 7, 1971; Inventor: Robert E. Owen.

In my long research prior to the filing of the application on my first door, a great amount of time and effort was expended both in conceiving and in developing the worlds first railroad car door hydraulic system for these purposes, and in the first invention, each of the crank arms was controlled by a separate hydraulic cylinder and each of four latches was itself controlled by a separate hydraulic cylinder, totalling eight hydraulic cylinders.

However, after all that research, it was found that the operation of a door of that description was not satisfactory because of lack of sychronization of the operation of the various crank arms. If one crank arm met with greater resistance in the process of its turning, then all the hydraulic fluid would simply operate the other three crank arm cylinders until they were further fully operated before there would be sufficient pressure placed on the crank arm having the greatest resistance to cause it to then operate. This was erratic in operation and very unsatisfactory.

During the developmentof my earlier eight-cylinder hydraulic system, it had seemed logical to have a separate cylinder at each crank arm because if a door is to be hydraulic instead of mechanically operated, it seemed logical to have it operate as completely as possible with hydraulics. However, my earlier allhydraulic door operated unsatisfactorily and erratically, as described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A door and hydraulic actuation assembly comprising a sliding door of the plug type used on railroad cars and having two right and two left wheel-carrying crank arm assemblies journalled to the door by shafts, right side and left side vertical torque members connecting shafts of the right crank arm assemblies and of the left crank arm assemblies, respectively, right and left side torquecontrol hydraulic cylinder means operating said right and left side torque members, respectively, door latching assemblies controlled by latching cylinder means, manually controllable hydraulic pressure supply means reversibly operating said torque-control hydraulic cylinder means, and sequencing means responsive to operations of the torque control hydraulic cylinder means and automatically sequencing operation of the latching means and the torque members.

The combination described further having lock means comprising at least one plunger openable check valve disposed at one of the ports of one of said door control cylinder assemblies, said plunger openable valve having a housing provided with a passage therethrough, the passageway having an enlarged portion at that one end thereof which is the end nearest the respective cylinder, and having a restricted portion at its other end, said passageway portions being separated by a valve seat, a valve ball cooperative with said valve seat and disposed on the cylinder side of the valve seat, spring means mounted on the housing for holding the valve ball in a position for closing the passageway by engagement with the seat, an enlarged plunger portion snugly slidable in the restricted portion of the passage, a connector plunger portion disposed between the first mentioned plunger portion and the valve ball, and connecting the two so that when fluid presses on the end of the plunger which is opposite the ball, the ball will move away from the seat for opening the valve, a port extending through the housing with its inner end in communication with the passageway at a point intermediate between the ball and the farther end of the plunger, whereby fluid can flow out through the port when the valve is open and whereby fluid flowing inwardly through the port will depress the spring for opening the valve.

The door having at least one tandem latch assembly comprising a plurality of latches moving in parallelism and connected by a tandem bar operated by a single hydraulic latch control cylinder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 shows the door of this invention in side elevation as seen from the outer side of a railroad car, only certain broken away portions of the railroad car being shown in section near latches, portions of tracks on which the door slides being shown in various parts of the door being broken away to show the interior construction.

FIG. 2 is a detail showing the right hand door control cylinder in top plan view and adjacent parts as seen in section along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the parts shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a detail of the hydraulic pump reservoir and valve assembly of FIG. 1, the pump handle being shown in dotted lines to indicate its reciprocating action.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the hydraulic system of the door of this invention, the pump being shown in a different physical position than in FIG. 1 for convenience of illustration of the connection of the lines thereto.

FIG. 6 is a detail showing of the plunger-openable valve.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 the door of this invention is generally indicated at 10 and is adapted for operation in upper and lower guiding and supporting door tracks 12 and 14, which latter are attached to the side of a railroad car, not shown, except for small portions of the door jamb 30 of the railroad car as shown in section because the forward portions of the door jamb have been broken away to show latches there beneath as later described.

When the door is in an open position it is slid along the tracks 12 and 14 until it is completely to one side of a doorway opening, which latter is indicated at 40.

As shown in FIG. 1,. the door is in a closed and latched position nested into the doorway 40, and plugging the doorway opening 40. In that sense it can be called a plug-type door.

An actuation mechanism, generally indicated at 50, is provided for laterally moving the door outwardly so as not to plug the opening 40 and having two generally horizontally extending upper crank arms 52 and 54, one on the left and one of the right side of the door disposed above the upper edge 56 of the door. The crank arms 52 and 54 are each rotatably journalled at one end portion of each to the upper section of the door, such journalling being accomplished by shaft means 60 and 62 at the right and left, and attached to arms 52 and 54, respectively, the shaft means 60 and 62 being rotatably supported in bearings 64 which are attached to the door on its frame which can be generally designated by the numeral 68.

The other and outer end of each crank arm 52 and 54 has an upwardly extending track engaging means 70 mounted thereon, and engaging the upper door track in a manner for slidable travel along the door track 14.

The crank arms 52 and 54 and the track engaging means 70 can each respectively be called a right and a left upper crank arm assembly generally indicated at 76 and 78.

The door further has a lower right and a lower left crank arm assembly 80 and 82 respectively, comprising crank arms 84 and 86 journalled to the door by shafts 88 and 90, which are received in bearings 92 and 94, which latter are attached to the door frame 68.

The crank arms 86 and 84 face inwardly at times when the door is in a closed position, as also do the crank arms 52 and 54.

The ends of the crank arms 84 and 86 which are opposite the shafts 88 and 90 have track engaging assemblies 100 mounted thereon, which latter makes sliding and guiding engagement with the lower door track 12, while permitting the swinging of the arms 84 and 86 with respect to the track engaging assemblies 100.

The crank arms 52 and 54, 84 and 86, together with the shaft 60, 62, 88 and 90 define four crank arm and shaft means assemblies, comprising right side door top and bottom shaft means assemblies 76 and 80 and left side door top and bottom shaft means assemblies 78 and 82.

A right side synchronizing connector assembly generally indicated at 110 connects the shaft means 60 and 88 on the right side.

A left side synchronizing connector assembly 112 connects the respective shaft means 62 and 90 of the left side crank arm and shaft means assembly 78 and 82.

It is a new feature of this invention, as distinguished from my own earlier hydraulic door mentioned above, that the right side and left side synchronizing connector assemblies 110 and 112 are each free of hydraulic cylinder and hydraulic cylinder line means in the sense that these as such are not used as a primary means of affecting synchronization of rotation of the respective shafts 60 and 88 and 62 and 90.

The movement of the door 10 into and out of the door opening 40 for closing and opening the door is accomplished by door control hydraulic cylinder assembly means, generally indicated at 120, and more specifically comprising right and left door control cylinder assemblies, generally indicated at 130, and each comprising a hydraulic cylinder 600, having a shaft 602, having its outer end connected by a clevis 603 to an arm 604, each arm 604 being connected to a respective one of the shafts 88 or 90, depending upon whether the cylinder assembly is respectively on the right side or left side of the door 10.

Each cylinder 600 is pivotally mounted on the frame 68 of the door by suitable means shown at 605 in FIGS. 2 and 3, so as to swing freely about a vertical pin 606.

As best seen in FIG. 1 the right side and left side of the synchronizer connector means and 112 respectively, each comprise a rigid elongated vertical torque member 611 or 612 respectively. The right side torque member 611 is a pipe which extends over but it is rigidly fixed to the lower end of the upper right side shaft 60' and the upper end of the lower right side shaft 88.

Likewise the left torque 612 is a pipe receiving and rigidly connected to the lower end of the upper left side shaft means 62 and connected to the upper end of the lower left side shaft means 90.

Referring to FIG. 1, the door has latch means generally indicated at 400 thereon for movement into extended latching position and into retracted unlatching position.

The particular form or place of the latching means of the door is quite independent of the remainder of the hydraulic features of the door and it can be understood that latches can be put around the door and at any various places. However, for purposes of illustration right and left side tandem latching assemblies 406 will be described. In each of these assemblies there are upper and lower spaced latches 410 which are connected to the door frame 68 by any suitable means such as guide supports 412, whereby the latches 410 are adapted to slide horizontally in the guide support 412 so as to move into and out of latch receiving notches 414 in the door jamb.

The ends of the latches 410 which are closest to the center of the door are pivotally connected by a right and left tandem bar 420 and the tandem bar 420 extends substantially vertically and are caused to move horizontally to the right and left by a connection thereto of the shaft 430 of latch control cylinder assemblies 440. Each assembly 440 has its cylinder 760 suitably attached to the door frame 68 and its shaft 430 pivotally connected to the respective tandem bar 420 by a clevis 442 which permits pivoting about a horizontal axis through the clevis so that the bars 420 are adapted to pivot slightly although their main motion is only to the right or left.

Suitable means is shown at 444 for connecting each cylinder 760 to the frame 68 and the connecting means 444 can be the same as a connecting means 605 earlier described herein, and used for theattachment of the door control cylinders 600.

A hydraulic fluid reservoir 514 is shown in FIG. 1 and it is mounted above a pump 516 having a long hand lever 518 which is adapted to reciprocate in a vertical plane parallel to the door 10 between an upright position shown in full lines in FIG. 4 and an inclined dotted line position, shown in FIG. 4, such reciprocation, re-

peated back and forth by an operator, being adapted to operate the pump 516 for drawing fluid from the reservoir 514 through a line 517, the pump 516 having an outlet side connected by a line 519 to a valve 510, all as shown in FIG. 5, although it is understood that the valve 510 in FIG. 5 is shown in a theoritcal position for convenience of illustration of its hydraulic line, whereas the valve 510 is actually mounted on the door in the position shown in FIG. 1 and with its operating lever 500 swingable back and forth in a horizontal plane between two stops 501, best seen in FIG. 5.

In operation, and referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, to close the door when it is opposite to the door opening 40, the operating lever 500 of valve 510 is swung into a full-line position shown at 500 in FIG. 5, and as the pump handle 518 is reciprocated, fluid from thereservoir 514 will pass through line 517 and pump 516 through the line 518 and valve 510 and out through a valve port through a first main line 524 down to lines 530 and 532 which respectively lead to first ports 538 and 536 of left and right tees 540 and 542.

The tees 540 and 542 have second ports 549 respectively connected to left and right spring-operated check valves 570 respectively.

Fluid flows through the left and right check valves 570 into the first end ports 571 of the door control cylinders 600, on which the check valves 570 are mounted in directions for causing the cylinders 600 to extend for closing the door.

While this is going on, fluid is also passing out through the second end ports 620 at the other ends of the door control cylinders 600 through cross fittings 640 and from the cross fittings 640 out through lines 650 to a general return line 660 leading back to a port 670 of the valve 510, through the valve 510 and through a line 520 back to the reservoir 514.

After the door control cylinders 600 have extended sufficiently, ends of the clevises 603 on the rods of the cylinders 600 will strike plungers 692 of door latching and unlatching sequencing valves 694 which can also be called spring-return synchronizing valves 694.

When the plungers 692 of the spring-return valves 694 are depressed, then the valves 694 will allow fluid to flow from third ports 720 of tees 540 and 542, through lines 722, through the spring-return synchronizing valves 694, through lines 732, up to ports 740 of plunger-openable check valves 742, the latter valves being identical in construction to the plunger-openable check valves 570 mounted on the door control cylinders 600 and shown in FIG. 6 later described in detail.

Fluid flowing up through the lines 732 and through the plunger-openable check valves 742 proceed from the valves 742 into respective latch control cylinders 760, flowing in a direction for causing the latch control cylinder assemblies 440 to extend for latching, since the door is being closed.

This inflow of fluid into the latch control cylinders 600 is possible because during cylinder extending, oil flows out the other end of the latch control cylinders 760 through ports 762, through tees 768, through lines 770 and down to second ports of the tees 640 respectively, and from there the fluid is free to flow out through the lines 650 and back through the main return line 660, through the valve 510, through line 520, to the reservoir 514.

This pumping and flow is continued until the latches 410 are each in completely extended latching position.

When the latching cylinders have extended, the latches out to their limit, any further pressure rise in the system will be prevented by dissipation of pressure through a pressure release valve 1200 between the lines 518 and 520 so no harm will be done by excess pumpmg.

To open the door, the valve lever 500 is swung into the dotted line position shown in FIG. 5, and the action is the reverse, in which fluid flows out through the second main line 660, through the lines 650 entering the door control cylinders 600 in the direction for opening the door.

During the door opening, fluid is permitted to flow out through the other ends of the cylinders 600 only because certain lines 900 are provided which are connected to respective spring-operated check valves 570 and receive fluid from tees 640, the force of which presses the balls of the check valves 570 into open position, permitting fluid to flow through the check valves 570, out from the cylinders 600 into the tees 542, out through the lines 532, and through the line 524, back through the valve 510 and return line 520 to the reservoir 514.

During door opening, the first thing that must happen is for the latching cylinders 760 to operate. Even though oil flows to both the latching cylinders 760 and to the door opening cylinders 600, yet the latching cylinders 760 will operate first, because their frictional resistance is less.

The operating of the latching cylinders is as follows: First, fluid flows through the lines 770 up through tees 768, check valves 742, and simultaneously flowing through lines 906 to the ports 762, so that oil flows into the cylinders 760 through the ports 762 for retracting the latching cylinder assemblies 440.

Oil is permitted to flow out of the latching cylinder assemblies 440 through the check valves 742 only because fluid flows into the check valves 742 from the tees 768, depressing the valve on the inside of the check valve assemblies 742 causing it to be in an open position thereby permitting fluid to flow therethrough from the latching cylinders 760 out through ports 926 and through ports 740 of the check valves 742 to the lines 732.

It is important that there be check valves 1000 connected by conduits 1002 to lines 732 and to lines 722 by conduits 1004, permitting fluid to by-pass the sequencing valves 794 whenever fluid is flowing through the lines 732 so it can flow to the lines 722. The sequencing valves 694 are conventional spring plunger valves. The check valves 1000 wont let fluid flow from the lines 722 into the lines 732, but only the reverse direction.

The pressure release valve 1200 could also be called a by-pass valve 1200.

Another important function of the pressure release valve 1200 is that it provides a hydraulic cushioning such as described in my earlier application cushioning the system to prevent damage from the closing of the door with excessive force.

Referring to FIG. 6, the plunger-openable valve 570 will now be described in detail. The valves 570 each have a housing 571 having a passage 572 therethrough which has an enlarged part 573 disposed closest to the adjacent hydraulic cylinder 600 and a restricted portion 574 disposed at the other end of the passage way 572, the two portions being separated by a valve seat 575 which receives thereagainst a valve ball 576. Whenever there is fluid under pressure in the cylinder 600, the force of the pressure will hold the ball 576 in seated position preventing flow out from the cylinder 600.

However, a plunger 577 is attached to the ball 576 and moves in a passage-way portion 574 with its enlarged portion 579 making a snug slidable fit, whereby fluid entering the valve 570 through the line 900 and engaging the plunger 579 will cause the plunger to open the valve permitting flow in the direction of the arrow and out through a port 582 in the direction of an arrow 584, the port 582 being connected by a connector 549, as seen in FIG. 5, to the tee 542.

The plunger control valve 742 mounted near each of the latching control cylinders 760 are each of the same construction as the valve 570 more completely described in FIG. 6, whereby the details of the valves 742 need not be further shown.

The valve 570 further has a spring 586 having one end engaging the ball 576 and its other end supported on a perforated shelf 587 fixed to the valve housing 571.

The spring 586 holds the valve closed to prevent flow from the cylinder 600 except at, times when the spring is depressed by pressure on the plunger 579 as above described, or at times when fluid is flowing inwardly of the port 582 and depresses the ball as is the case when fluid flows from the tee 720, having reached the tee through the lines 524 and 532 as above described.

I claim:

1. A laterally movable, sliding door for operation in upper and lower parallel guiding and supporting door tracks and for movement laterally into and out of a door opening and for sliding longitudinally along said tracks to a position uncovering said door opening, an actuation mechanism for laterally moving the door comprising: two generally horizontally extending upper crank arms each rotatably journalled at one end portion of each to an upper section of said door, each of said upper crank arms having an upwardly extending track engaging means at its other end portion making sliding and guiding engagement with the upper door track; at least two horizontally extending lower crank arms rotatably journalled at one end portion of each to the lower end of the door, and each lower crank arm having a downwardly depending track engaging means at its other end portion making sliding and guiding engagement with said lower door track; said upper and lower crank arms each being independently journalled by means respectively comprising upper and lower vertical shaft means to which they are respectively attached whereby said four arms and said shaft means form two upper and two lower crank arm and shaft means assemblies, said door having at least four of said crank arm and shaft means assemblies comprising right side top and bottom and left side top and bottom crank arm and shaft means assemblies, two door control hydraulic cylinder assembly means each having a first portion attached to said door and a second portion movably and reciprocally mounted on said first portion, means operably connecting said second portions of said door control hydraulic cylinder assembly means to said right and left crank arm and shaft means assemblies respectively so that movements of said second portions in said two opposite directions respectively causes door opening and closing operations respectively of said crank arm and shaft means assemblies, controllable hydraulic means attached to said door and operably connected to said door control hydraulic cylinder assembly means for selectively causing move ment of said second portions in a selected one of two opposite directions, said door having door latching as sembly means mounted thereon, door latching control hydraulic cylinder assembly means operating said door latching assembly means, said hydraulic means having a latching cylinder assembly means control portion which latter is operably connected to said door latching control hydraulic cylinder assembly means and which is provided with a sequencing valve in it which latter when in one position permits flow of hydraulic fluid to said door latching control hydraulic cylinder assembly means causing said latter means to be operated causing said door latching assembly to latch, at least one of said door control hydraulic cylinder assembly means having a controllable valve part engaging means mounted thereon, said sequencing valve being mounted on said door and having a controlling portion engaged by said controllable valve part engaging means to cause said sequencing valve to be in its said one position only at times when said latter second portion has reached a position reached only when said crank arm and shaft means assemblies are in door closed positions.

2. The door of claim 1 in which said hydraulic means latching cylinder assembly means control portion is operably connected to said sequencing valve for causing said door latching control hydraulic cylinder assembly to operate to cause unlatching during times when said sequencing valve is in another position.

3. The door of claim 1 in which said sequencing valve has a movable plunger having spring means for returning the plunger to normal position, said plunger defining said controlling portion of said sequencing valve.

4. The sliding door of claim 1 in which a pair of vertical shafts respectively connect and synchronize said two right side crank arm and shaft means assemblies and connect and synchronize said two left side crank arm and shaft means assemblies.

5. The sliding door of claim 1 in which said at least one door latching assembly means comprises upper and lower latches connected to a tandem bar which latter forms a part of said means attaching said door latching assembly to said door latching control hydraulic cylinder assembly means. 

1. A laterally movable, sliding door for operation in upper and lower parallel guiding and supporting door tracks and for movement laterally into and out of a door opening and for sliding longitudinally along said tracks to a position uncovering said door opening, an actuation mechanism for laterally moving the door comprising: two generally horizontally extending upper crank arms each rotatably journalled at one end portion of each to an upper section of said door, each of said upper crank arms having an upwardly extending track engaging means at its other end portion making sliding and guiding engagement with the upper door track; at least two horizontally extending lower crank arms rotatably journalled at one end portion of each to the lower end of the door, and each lower crank arm having a downwardly depending track engaging means at its other end portion making sliding and guiding engagement with said lower door track; said upper and lower crank arms each being independently journalled by means respectively comprising upper and lower vertical shaft means to which they are respectively attached whereby said four arms and said shaft means form two upper and two lower crank arm and shaft means assemblies, said door having at least four of said crank arm and shaft means assemblies comprising right side top and bottom and left side top and bottom crank arm and shaft means assemblies, two door control hydraulic cylinder assembly means each having a first portion attached to said door and a second portion movably and reciprocally mounted on said first portion, means operably connecting said second portions of said door control hydraulic cylinder assembly means to said right and left crank arm and shaft means assemblies respectively so that movements of said second portions in said two opposite directions respectively causes door opening and closing operations respectively of said crank arm and shaft means assemblies, controllable hydraulic means attached to said door and operably connected to said door control hydraulic cylinder assembly means for selectively causing movement of said second portions in a selected one of two opposite directions, said door having door latching assembly means mounted thereon, door latching control hydraulic cylinder assembly means operating said door latching assembly means, said hydraulic means having a latching cylinder assembly means control portion which latter is operably connected to said door latching control hydraulic cylinder assembly means and which is provided with a sequencing valve in it which latter when in one position permits flow of hydraulic fluid to said door latching control hydraulic cylinder assembly means causing said latter means to be operated causing said door latching assembly to latch, at least one of said door control hydraulic cylinder assembly means having a controllable valve part engaging means mounted thereon, said sequencing valve being mounted on said door and having a controlling portion engaged by said controllable valve part engaging means to cause said sequencing valve to be in its said one position only at times when said latter second portion has reached a position reached only when said crank arm and shaft means assemblies are in door closed positions.
 2. The door of claim 1 in which said hydraulic means latching cylinder assembly means control portion is operably connected to said sequencing valve for causing said door latching control hydraulic cylinder assembly to operate to cause unlatching during times when said sequencing valve is in another position.
 3. The door of claim 1 in which said sequencing valve has a movable plunger having spring means for returning the plunger to normal position, said plunger defining said controlling portion of said sequencing valve.
 4. The sliding door of claim 1 in which a pair of vertical shafts respectively connect and synchronize said two right side crank arm and shaft means assemblies and connect and synchronize said two left side crank arm and shaft means assemblies.
 5. The sliding door of claim 1 in which said at least one door latching assembly means comprises upper and lower latches connected to a tandem bar which latter forms a part of said means attaching said door latching assembly to said door latching control hydraulic cylinder assembly means. 